Trish wrote in with an early festive shopping question and I felt I should try to help:
Hello my name is Trish and I am seeking your help. I know this is a strange email, but any kind of response would be fabulous.
I have a Secret Santa at my work called Amy. She is Formula One mad and I need to purchase something for her to the value of £5.
I am not that clever at this kind of stuff, and would not have a clue where to look, someone gave me your address and told me to contact you. Please can you help, or suggest something for me to give a F1 fan?
F1 merchandise isn’t cheap so finding something for less than a fiver may prove a little tricky. But here’s a few ideas – good luck, Trish!
Season review videos
Recent F1 season videos are available cheaply and offer hours of F1 entertainment. And if they’re got your friend’s favourite driver or team on the cover you’re definitely onto a winner.
Last year’s video doesn’t quite fall under the £5 barrier but the previous four do. The two-disc review of the thrilling, down-to-the-wire 2010 championship is my pick of these:
- 2010 F1 season review DVD – Sebastian’s coming of age (£4.59): Read the review | Buy from Amazon
- 2009 F1 season review DVD – Not in a hurry (£3.00): Read the review | Buy from Amazon
- 2008 F1 season review DVD – Luck does not come into it… (£4.72): Read the review | Buy from Amazon
- 2007 F1 season review DVD – Kimi made it at last! (£4.59): Read the review | Buy from Amazon
Senna
I was surprised to discover the excellent documentary Senna, which was in cinemas last year, can also be picked up for less than a fiver. If Amy hasn’t seen this yet it’s a sure-fire winner for Trish:
- Senna (£4.75): Read the review | Buy from Amazon
Books
There are several Formula One books recommended by F1 Fanatic which can be had for well under five quid.
Alan Henry’s Top 100 F1 Drivers of All Time is an accessible read on the top F1 drivers to have taken to the track.
- The Top 100 F1 Drivers of All Time (£1.43): Read the review | Buy from Amazon
Cars at Speed may have an uninspiring title but Robert Daley’s book is an essential read for all F1 fans on the perilous early days of Grand Prix racing. The 2007 reprint is ridiculously cheap – grab it.
- Cars at Speed (£2.60): Read the review | Buy from Amazon
Former Top Gear presenter and two-time F1 driver Tiff Needell produced his entertaining autobiography last year:
- Tiff Gear (£3.85): Read the review | Buy from Amazon
Two new books on F1 titan Bernie Ecclestone have appeared recently but this earlier book is the one I refer to most.
- Bernie’s Game (£4.99): Read the review | Buy from Amazon
There are stacks more F1 books out there. If you come across one which looks like a bargain and want to know if it’s any good refer to F1 Fanatic’s extensive reviews.
F1 merchandise
Finding decent, official F1 gear for less than a fiver may be tricky. The search facility on the official F1 shop offers a lowest price of £5.
But you can get unofficial and characterful F1-style merchandise from Unlap such as these Ferrari keyrings and gym bags.
And while you’re there, be sure to pick an official F1 Fanatic mug. Yes, they cost a budget-busting £8, but they represent the pinnacle of hot drink vessel technology.
More ideas
Need more F1 gift ideas? Check our last year’s gift guide:
F1 shops
Here’s one last tip for Trish: have a look for shops in your area which sell F1 memorabilia or books. I’m based in London so here are a few examples near me, although the team’s shops are unlikely to have much on offer for five pounds:
- Motor Books on Cecil Court near Leicester Square (also a racing car model shop next door)
- Ferrari Store on Regent Street
- Inside Track McLaren store at Westfield shopping centre
- Lotus Originals on Regent Street
Over to you
Can any F1 Fanatic readers help Trish out with her Secret Santa quest?
Please post your suggestions for sub-£5 F1 gifts in the comments.
Prices quoted from Amazon where not specified. They are correct at the time of publication but may not include other charges such as postage. F1 Fanatic earns a commission on products sold via the links to our affiliate partners above, however you are not charged any extra. See here for more information.
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Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
29th October 2012, 16:45
I’d so buy one if I could. It’d completely transform my raceweekends. It’s basically a fountain of F1 knowledge, right in the form of a mug.
andae23 (@andae23)
29th October 2012, 17:04
I’m a bit picky when it comes to mugs: can I be 100% sure that the mug’s alternator will not fail? Also, can I continue to use this mug if it encounters a Venezuelan mug?
Mads (@mads)
29th October 2012, 17:25
@andae23
In that case I think you should stay far, far away from Red Bull or McLaren mugs. That seem to be their real weakness. Ferrari mugs seem pretty reliable, but you need to stay well clear of anything remotely French, or something with a fake lotus badge on it, otherwise you might get in trouble.
I don’t think that F1fanatic mugs would encounter similar issues. But whether they come add-free, or if that is an optional extra, I don’t know.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
29th October 2012, 17:27
@mads Yes the mugs are ad-free (unless you count the logo) :-)
thatscienceguy
29th October 2012, 22:36
If you want to savour your drink, get a Williams mug like mine. It seems to take forever to finish.
James (@jimmyd13)
3rd January 2013, 19:28
If you get a Lotus mug be careful on first use as it can be temperamental, but latter uses produce very high quality coffee.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
29th October 2012, 17:54
@andae23 It’s hard to answer those questions.
Some say that creates so much downforce that even of you turn the mug upside down, the coffee doesn’t get out, and that if you hold it while reading one of @prisoner-monkeys long comments, you’ll transform into Yuji Ide.
Others say that it was designed by Adrian Newey’s dog, and that if you blown on it, it’ll reduce drag by 10%.
All we know is… it’s awesome !
andae23 (@andae23)
29th October 2012, 18:08
I WANT ONE!!
JPQuesado (@joao-pedro-cq)
29th October 2012, 18:25
I’d buy three different mugs: one for the friday practice breakfast, other for the saturday practice or qualifying (non-European time races) and another for the race day. It’s my dream right now!
caci99 (@)
29th October 2012, 19:33
It works good only in hot conditions.
Bleeps_and_Tweaks (@bleeps_and_tweaks)
29th October 2012, 17:48
“the pinnacle of hot drink vessel technology.”
Classic!
DuncF1 (@duncf1)
29th October 2012, 21:24
I do hope ‘Trish’ isn’t her real name, Keith. If Amy is F1 mad, and reads F1Fanatic, then you may have just revealed her Secret Santa ;)
weresf1gone
30th October 2012, 1:23
Senna for £4.75 is it, without a doubt….
well unless she already owns it….
but I woudnt say no to a spare copy if given it for a secret santa… its win win win.
KaIIe (@kaiie)
30th October 2012, 9:06
Bit pricey if you ask me – for a DVD. The BR costs just £6.84.
weresf1gone
30th October 2012, 1:38
plus if you give a copy of Senna your get that nod of ` Ar, you know of the Senna`.
handy if its the boss :-)
Girts (@girts)
30th October 2012, 8:03
I have read several books about F1 over the last couple of years myself, and most of them are now available for less than £5. Here they are:
Formula 1 Fanatic
Fangio: The Life Behind the Legend
Chequered Conflict: The Inside Story on Two Explosive F1 World Championships (The story of the controversial 2007 season, compared with the 1986 season)
It Is What It Is: The Autobiography (by David Coulthard)
I can recommend all of them although I would pick ‘Formula 1 Fanatic’ and DC’s autobiography if I had to choose only two.
I have bought a couple of F1 keyrings for less than £5, too.
Woffin (@woffin)
30th October 2012, 17:08
Maybe a little more expensive than what you had in mind but WTF1 has some good (and humourous) tshirts and hoodies etc
http://wtf1.co.uk/store/
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
31st October 2012, 7:30
Good article! Unfortunately I’m no good when it comes to adding to this list but this is a great idea.